Sampler
EmbroidererProbably embroidered by
Harriet Merrill
American, 1825 - 1847
EmbroidererPossibly embroidered by
Harriet Camp
American, 1799 - 1880
Dateabout 1815-1830
MediumEmbroidery; silk threads on a plain-woven, undyed linen ground
DimensionsPrimary Dimensions (height x width of ground): 12 x 17 1/4in. (30.5 x 43.8cm)
ClassificationsTextiles
Credit LineMuseum purchase
DescriptionUnfinished sampler worked in black, dark blue, pink, yellow, and light green (bright) silk threads on a plain-woven linen ground in cross (over two threads) and long arm cross [Katherine - please confirm that these are not herringbone] stitches. The sampler is rectangular, oriented horizontally. It is laid out with four rows of three alphabets and the numbers 1 through 8, over an inscription. The inscription is "Take fast hold of instruction/ keep her for she is thy life". Certain lines of alphabets, numbers, and text are separated by various narrow meandering borders. There is a four-sided border. The sampler is unfinished.
The sampler has a 2/8 to 5/16-inch double-turned hem on all four edges. The sampler is not framed.
Letters and Numbers: There are three alphabets and the numbers 1-8. The letters are uppercase block in alphabet 1, lowercase block in alphabet 2, and uppercase script in alphabet 3. The letter J is present in the first and second alphabets; the letter U is present in all alphabets. All lowercase letters with descenders, such as the letter 'g', are placed so the descender does not extend below the baseline.
Stitches: The principal stitch on the sampler is cross stitch over two threads; it is also worked in long arm cross [confirm that these are not herringbone].
Condition: The sampler has minimal fading. The sampler is unfinished. It is not framed.
The sampler has a 2/8 to 5/16-inch double-turned hem on all four edges. The sampler is not framed.
Letters and Numbers: There are three alphabets and the numbers 1-8. The letters are uppercase block in alphabet 1, lowercase block in alphabet 2, and uppercase script in alphabet 3. The letter J is present in the first and second alphabets; the letter U is present in all alphabets. All lowercase letters with descenders, such as the letter 'g', are placed so the descender does not extend below the baseline.
Stitches: The principal stitch on the sampler is cross stitch over two threads; it is also worked in long arm cross [confirm that these are not herringbone].
Condition: The sampler has minimal fading. The sampler is unfinished. It is not framed.
Object number1968.42.2
MarkingsTranscription of text lines:"ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ&/ abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz& 12345678/ ABCDEFGHIKLMNOPQ/ RSTUVWXYZ/ Take fast hold of instruction/ keep her for she is thy life".NotesObject Note: The verse embroidered on the sampler, "Take fast hold of instruction/ keep her for she is thy life" is a paraphrase of bible verse Proverbs 4:13, King James Version. (Hunt 10/24/2007)
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